Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s effort to restore voting rights to tens of thousands of convicted felons sparked controversy Thursday after an attorney obtained an executive citation addressed to “Betty No Last Name,” purportedly notifying the recipient that her voting rights had been restored.
The citation identifies No Last Name as one of more than 66,000 Virginians whose rights to vote, serve on juries and seek public office have reportedly been restored under Spanberger’s administration. The controversy comes ahead of a Nov. 3 ballot measure that would make voting rights restoration automatic upon release from prison.
“It’s a big deal,” said Virginia Beach attorney Tim Anderson, who first obtained the citation for No Last Name and shared it with Fox News Digital.
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“It’s clear [Spanberger] didn’t sign it. No governor and no secretary of the commonwealth would sign a restoration order that says Betty No Last Name, so they’re not looking at it; they didn’t review anything,” Anderson told Fox News Digital in an interview Thursday. Each citation bears the signatures of the governor and Secretary of the Commonwealth Candi Mundon-King.
“Whereas, Betty No Last Name, by reason of conviction(s), suffers political disabilities …,” the citation obtained by Fox News Digital says.
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Anderson said he obtained the citation through a public records request to the Chesapeake Sheriff’s Office after reports emerged that restoration notices had been sent to felons who are now deceased. He said the document originated from Spanberger’s office and was sent to the sheriff’s office.
He speculated that the citations were generated through a mail merge of records and signed using an autopen despite language in the documents indicating that each case had been individually reviewed.
Former Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares also questioned whether the administration had individually reviewed the restoration cases.
“Four mentions of ‘Betty No Last Name’ and still no last name. I’m thinking perhaps Abigail Spanberger’s ‘individualized review’ is just imaginary,” Miyares said in a statement.
Fox News Digital reached out to Spanberger, Mundon-King and the Chesapeake Sheriff’s Office for comment. A sheriff’s office official said she was not immediately familiar with the case but would look into it.
Anderson said he found the questionable citation after contacting only a handful of Virginia law enforcement agencies and believes similar cases may exist elsewhere in the state. He also suggested that officials whose signatures appear on the citations could face criminal liability if the documents were found to be fraudulent, potentially resulting in forfeiture of office.
Anderson’s finding went viral on social media Thursday, and critics pointed out how No Last Name’s citation colored the upcoming ballot question on automatic rights restoration for felons.
Some Virginia lawmakers have called for an independent audit of Spanberger’s rights-restoration process. State Sen. Glen Sturtevant, R-Chesterfield, who has called for the audit, said reports have since emerged of restoration citations being sent to deceased individuals.
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“Now a certificate for “Betty No Last Name,” signed by the governor. Still no audit. Vote no on Question 3,” Sturtevant said in a statement.
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“Congratulations to Betty No Last Name,” added Del. Wren Williams, R-Stuart. “You can now vote in Virginia.”
